Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

• Describe at least one example of a microaggression which you detected this week or remember from another time. In what context did the microaggression happen? What did you think and feel when you observed the microaggression or when you found yourself as the target of a microaggression?

Example 1: In having a meeting with several coworkers, in light of an expected change of command, the  fate of a certain employee was under scrutiny. While most indicated his fate rested on the financial ability to retain him, one coworker said, “We’ll know what is going to happen to him by next week. He was one of  “her people,” referring to the shared ethnicity of the command and thee employee and insinuating his job was a product of that shared ethnicity. I was angered at hearing the comment, his job was contingent on his abilities when hired but was now reliant on finances. Race was not a factor.  

Example 2: Recently, I participated in an online training for my career that used Webinars, live seminars conducted over the internet. Understanding that webinars are live and primarily audio, I informed my instructor early on, that “hearing” all of the information may be difficult and written support is needed. Just prior to the third webinar, I receive an email that states, “FYI to avoid frustration I feel that you should know that this webinar is fast passed and you will struggle retaining the information…” I was offended, I have difficulty hearing not comprehending and it will not matter how fast or slow one speaks, if they cannot properly enunciate and articulate their words.

• In what ways did your observation experiences this week affect your perception of the effects of discrimination, prejudice, and/or stereotypes on people

While the gentleman did not hear the comment being made, had he, I believe he would have been hurt. The statement insinuated he was not qualified or capable of the job, but merely held it as a racial privilege. I myself was offended at the stereotype placed on me, her statement, while most likely intended innocently, said to me, “because you are hearing impaired, you are stupid.” She generalized having a disability as being cognitively impaired and defined my by that.

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

o    Their definition of culture

·        Culture is the reasons behind the way you act and the things you believe.

·       Culture to me is your families back grounds and beliefs, the way you are raised and the morals and values that are passed down from one generation to the next. Culture defines how we act.

·         Culture is different people from different places, different foods, and different communications styles.

·         Culture for me is the customs, traditions, thoughts and beliefs particular to a group of people or civilization

o    Their definition of diversity

·         Diversity is the differences between people.

·         Diversity to me is where you are around people with different back grounds and beliefs and you are accepting of their morals and values even if yours are different than yours. It is accepting people for who they are.

·         Diversity is the same as Culture, the ways we are different.

·         Diversity is the physical and social traits that identify each group of people or civilization; America has a diverse population with high predominance of African American and Latinos and the way each group of people live is driven by their culture

• Which aspects of culture and diversity that I have studied in this course are included in the answers I received—and what are some examples?

Many of the aspect of culture and diversity studied in the class are included in the answers above, for example, culture including values, beliefs, and morals, and traditions of families. Also included was the idea that diversity was the differences in people, and accepting those differences.

• Which aspects have been omitted—and what are some examples of such omission?

One of the answers provided did only touch on the surface of culture, addressing, languages, foods, and places of origin, and omitted the idea of culture including beliefs, mannerisms, and behaviors.

• In what ways has thinking about other people’s definitions of culture and diversity influenced my own thinking about these topics?

Many of the people interviewed were co-workers and employees. In thinking about other people’s definitions of culture and diversity,  I have realized that the definition of culture and diversity is not clear, and that cultural understanding and respect for diversity needs to start with continuity in meaning.

My Family Culture

Louise Derman-Sparks states that culture is, “…the specifics of what we actually believe and how we actually interact and what we actually learn from our own families and…” (Laureate, 2011) With that understanding, the three items I would take would include my bible that always has my most recent family picture taped inside, as it is the basis for my faith, my external hard drive as it encompasses everything important to myself and my family history,  and my hearing aids. Should I only be asked to keep one, I would keep my externals hard drive, as it is the basis for all that is important to me. It holds every family picture, every monumental step in life from marriage licenses, birth certificates, educational degrees and transcripts, to biblical quotes and passages, family recipes, family traditions and stories, and important phone numbers and email addresses.

This exercise is a reminder that family culture is the foundation of family, and is unique to each family regardless of cultural similarities. I have realized that remaining in contact with my family and having the resources the share and continue my family culture would be extremely important.

Laureate (2011). "Family Cultures: Dynamic Interactions". Retrieved on July 3, 2011 from http://sylvan.live.ecollege.com/ec/crs/default.learn?CourseID=5364617&Survey=1&47=7515489&ClientNodeID=984650&coursenav=1&bhcp=1